226 METEOROLOGY. [Jan. 



air is saturated with moisture ; strong winds blow across the Ben 

 not without risk to the observers ; altogether, life on the mountain 

 summit presents phases unknown to those in populous city pent. 

 A journal now lies before of us, of one who assisted last autumn in 

 effecting improvements at the observatory, staying for nine weeks on 

 the summit. Safer accesses had to be made to the out-door instru- 

 ments for the observers ; and the anemometer, as depicted on the 

 tower of our drawiuc;, erected. All this was done not without 

 adventure. Eain and moisture were the usual accompaniments. 

 Sou'-westers and oilskins all day, otherwise one is thoroughly 

 soaked even in a few minutes when a strong wind blows ; oilskins 

 at night, and buckets hung from the opening joints of the roof; but 

 afterwards a week of dry weather, when water had to be brought up 

 from Buchan's Well and paid for. Through the night the barlcing 

 of foxes and the shrieks of eagles were distinctly heard. Weasels 

 were plentiful, but kept out amongst the rocks, though last winter, 

 when the snow was 15 feet, they entered the observatory building, 

 doing havoc on the larder. The beauty of the sunrises was only 

 equalled by those of the sunsets. The great Ben with its abrupt 

 precipice on the west is encircled by a sea of mountain summits, 

 the westmost of which include the rugged peaks of the Isles of Skye 

 and Eigg. Some of the tourists, who averaged ten a day, came up 

 to witness the advent of Sol in the east ; none saw his departure 

 in the Atlantic seaboard. The favourite amusement was for one 

 with rope round his waist, and thus held by companions behind, to 

 throw boulders down the great precipice, 1740 feet deep, timing 

 their descent into the dark ravine, where snow patches were descried, 

 whilst eagles and ptarmigans added to the hurry. This was 

 decidedly dangerous in a high wind ; and sometimes it blew. The 

 anemometer showing the hourly wind-force mark from to 12, 

 where represents a calm and light wind of less than 3 miles an 

 hour; 1, 2, 3, 4, about 8, 13, 18, 23 miles an hour respectively, 

 and so on up to 12, which represents the highest winds from 90 

 miles an hour and upwards. Once during our journalist's stay the 

 wind was at force 5, and while on the way to Wragge's Well, the 

 highest in the kingdom, with a bucket, he was taken uphill 

 for six or eight feet, to come down on his back. Habit induced 

 affection foi a life even on the summit of Ben Nevis. Even 

 at this Christmas tide, ilr. Omond and his brother observers ma}"- 

 be looking down on our city civilisation with a certain pitying 

 complacency. 



